This is a dark day for freedom of expression and a vibrant press culture. But above all, it is an appalling human tragedy.

24/11/2014 – Amnesty International is deeply concerned over reports of excessive use of force and misuse of less-lethal weapons against protesters, ill-treatment of bystanders and attacks against photojournalists and journalists by riot police during and after demonstrations in Athens on 13 and 17 November 2014.

10/10/2014 – Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across the world are joining together to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to repeal the “foreign agents” law and to guarantee that NGOs in Russia are able to work without hindrance, harassment, stigmatisation or reprisals.

17/06/2014 – Amnesty International calls on the Hungarian government to stop targeting NGOs and civil society groups but ensure that they can exercise their right to freedom of association and freedom of expression without intimidation.

Those in power continue to show an absolute disregard for any dissenting voices in Azerbaijan. The international community including members of the Council of Europe must remind Azerbaijan on all occasions of its human rights obligations.

06/05/2014 – On 14 May 2014, Azerbaijan will take on the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. Thirteen years of Council of Europe membership have done little to improve the respect for civil and political rights in the country. Its progress towards becoming a pluralist democracy and consolidating the rule of law has not just stalled – it has gone into reverse in recent years.

11/04/2014 – The EU must not fail the people of Ukraine by sacrificing human rights to political expediency, and must prioritise human rights in their relations. In particular, Amnesty International calls on the EU to insist on progress being made to combat impunity for torture and other ill-treatment and discrimination, and to protect the rights to freedom of assembly association and expression throughout Ukraine.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ADVISORY

Missile debris from drone strike that killed 68 year old grandmother Mamana Bibi in Ghundi Kala, North Waziristan, Pakistan, on 24 October 2012.© Rafeequl Rehman

The message to President Putin, from rank and file Amnesty International supporters to world leaders staying away from the Games, is the same – repeal series of laws that restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.